Italy has declared a 12-month state of emergency after a bridge collapsed in (jen-oh-uh) Genoa killed nearly 40 people. <br />For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…<br />Aram… what's the latest?<br /><br />Well Mark…. The 50-year-old Morandi Bridge was said to have collapsed during torrential rain on Tuesday, dropping dozens of cars from a height of 45 meters. <br /> Rescuers are searching for any possible survivors under the rubble, but officials believe the chances of finding anyone alive are slim. <br />The bridge was a vital link of a highway that connects northwestern Italy to the south of France. <br />The collapse has sparked a furious reaction from the public and the government over how such a crucial piece of infrastructure could simply give way. <br /> Although the exact cause is not yet known, most of the blame is being pointed at Autostrade, the private firm responsible for operating the bridge and most of Italy's highways.<br />There have been calls for the CEO to resign for negligent homicide. <br /> Following a Cabinet meeting in Genoa, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared a 12-month state of emergency, saying his government won't wait until prosecutors finish investigating the incident to revoke Autostrade's concession. <br />He also vowed to make sure similar incidents do not occur again. <br /><br /> "……..These are unacceptable tragedies that should not happen in a modern society. This government will do everything to prevent such tragedies from happening again."<br /><br /> Meanwhile, Autostrade said the bridge was constantly monitored beyond legal requirements.<br />It added in a statement that work was being done to shore up the bridge's foundation that had been worn down due to heavy traffic, but it said a car bridge had been installed to allow maintenance activities to be carried out.<br /> The safety of Italian infrastructure has been the subject of a long-standing debate and Tuesday's collapse came after years of warnings from experts advising against the structure. <br />
